Phytochemical and Pharmacognostical Studies of Family Euphorbiaceae

Extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants permits demonstration of their physiological activity. It also facilitates pharmacology studies leading to discovery of synthesis of more potent drugs. The plants selected in the present study are Euphorbia prostrata, Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia splendens, Ricinus communis and Jatropha integearrima (Euphorbiaceae) which are used traditionally for antiseptics, dermatocides, skin diseases and diarrhea. The preliminary phytochemical and pharmacognostical studies on these plants were carried out for the first time. The present investigation was intended to evaluate the macroscopic characters of leaf, histochemical color reactions, ash values, fluorescence characters and preliminary phytochemical analysis of these plants. For preliminary phytochemical analysis, the dried leaves of Euphorbia splendens, Ricinus communis and Jatropha integearrima and dried whole plants of Euphorbia prostrata and Euphorbia hirta were extracted with methanol. Preliminary phytochemical screenings of these plants were done to identify the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, phytosterol, phenol, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and phlobatannins an